Announcement due 'very soon' on removal of Porthcawl's silt pile

Analysis also finds pile is not contaminated with asbestos and lead levels 'well below those that would pose significant risk of harm'

Silt and mud dredged from Porthcawl Harbour has been left on Salt Lake Car Park (Photo: David Williams)

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

An announcement is due “very soon” on plans for the removal of Porthcawl’s harbour silt.

Bridgend council is tendering for the removal of the waste on the Salt Lake site and Natural Resources Wales said it will be seeking confirmation of the timescale for removal once the contract is in place.

The news comes after local campaigners announced they will be holding a Move The Mud demonstration at the site on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25. Those behind the demonstration want to put pressure on Bridgend council to move the waste, which they fear poses a health risk, immediately.

But this week Natural Resources Wales (NRW) head of operations for South West Wales, Mary Youell, wrote to Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon stating that Public Health Wales has said the main contaminant of concern, lead, was “only elevated in a couple of samples” and are “well below levels that would pose significant risk of harm”.

Deputy Bridgend council leader David Sage said: “The council has repeatedly stated that the silt and the way in which it has been temporarily stored does not pose a risk to public health, so I hope that the information from Natural Resources Wales goes some way towards offering further reassurance.

“Plans for its removal are under way and we are looking forward to making an announcement on this very soon.”

In the letter to Mrs Moon, NRW also states that council tests have revealed the silt does not contain asbestos and adds that Public Health Wales found: “Other contaminants are not particularly elevated and as such would not be indicative of risks to health in this current context.”

The letter concludes with Ms Youell saying: “We continue to keep our enforcement options under review, but at present recognise that appropriate progress is being made to address this issue.”

Last week, following the announcement of the Porthcawl First-organised protest, Porthcawl town councillor Mark Davies said: “Enough is enough. They need to realise that feelings are running extremely high and residents are no longer willing to accept the constant neglect of our town.”